Observations by a Dependent Workman* » Holy Spirit

Jan 19, 2012 Chewable

dennarr — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:04:33 +0000

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22, 23

Funny how this passage is often read as a list of optional traits or on/off behaviors…

Training Journal – 1/19/12:

Current plan: 10K Training
Today’s session: 5 mile easy run
Comments: Good run…

me, HIM

dennarr — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:04:56 +0000

A rough minute, hour, day, month, year can change or affect me – it does not change or affect HIM:

“…if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

- 2 Timothy 2:13 NIV

Thankful, so thankful for that truth.

Training Journal – 12/26/11:

Current plan: 10K Training
Today’s session: Rest
Comments: zzzz

Seen in Every Scene

dennarr — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:31:34 +0000

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

- Psalm 19:1-4

Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…

- Romans 1:20

I see You in every scene, I bet You are thinking about me,
I have such a short memory so You keep reminding me of You

- Scenes, Charlie Hall

This song came up on shuffle play today [iTunes].

I love the reminder about how each aspect – each scene – of our life should lift our thoughts toward our Awesome, Creator God. I know I take so many “scenes” for granted, minimizing their import and the ever-present revelation of God in them.

I think this minimal version of this song will become a favorite of mine.

Galatians 5:21-1/2

dennarr — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:45:05 +0000

Yesterday, during Sunday School, we spent some time in Galatians 5 talking about Spirit-filled living.

The main topic was a follow-on to the sermon that morning about marriage, handling conflict, and “taking the desperation out of the household.” One thing that jumped out at me was the reminder that there is no middle ground between Galatians 5: 19-21 and 22-26.

Regarding living by the Spirit, Paul wrote:

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

The key reminder to me was that there is no space – no options between verses 21 & 22. As Christ-Followers, we are either living/walking in the Spirit or not.

Galatians 5:21-1/2 does not exist.

There is no IF, UNLESS, or EXCEPT clause – though we can easily slip into a manner of living as if there were. The gray areas we tend to carve out or create for ourselves – sometimes in our own sense of “justice,” but certainly in our flesh-based, “I got it from here God” living – simply do not exist in God’s Word.

Yeah, I know, this is nothing new. It’s sort of a no brainer, albeit a hard one to live out and one we easily forget.

It just punched me in the gut yesterday…

Father,
Forgive me for the times I live a Galatians 5:21-1/2 kind of life.
Convict me, as You so perfectly do, when I live
without yielding to Your control.
And may I be humble enough to listen to Your Spirit’s
prompting and correction.
amen, and amen.

A Holy Spirit Face Punch

dennarr — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:24:27 +0000

The Holy Spirit always face punches me with the song order on Jon Foreman’s Limbs and Branches album…

Track #7: House of God, Forever [lyrics]

Track #8: Instead of a Show [lyrics]

…thank you God. May I have another…